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Coffee House Confessions by Ellaraine Lockie

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

I was sent a review copy of this chapbook of Ellaraine Lockie’s poetry by Silver Birch Press, and I’m really pleased to say that I enjoyed the book very much. Some of you may not be familiar with the term “chapbook.” I know I wasn’t. It really just refers to a small, pocket sized booklet, but it sounds a lot cooler, doesn’t it? And everyone knows poets are the epitome of cool! 😀

Seriously, Coffee House Confessions is a very well done collection of poems. I’ve never read Lockie before, but I’m glad I had the chance to make up for that. As you might imagine, the collection features poems written in and about coffee houses around the world. The tone varies from poem to poem, with some being “heavier” in mood or subject matter than others, but all are very well done, and bring an interesting point of view along with them. I think there’s something for everyone in this collection. If you love contemporary poetry, you are sure to find some gems here that speak to you. If you don’t know if you love contemporary poetry, this might be a good place to start finding out.

I enjoyed so many of these poems, it was hard to pick one to share with you, but I finally settled on “In The Privacy of Public.” There is something about this one that really makes me want to know more. I can imagine so many stories behind the characters described within. Hope you enjoy it, and if you do, then head right on over to amazon.com and see about ordering your copy ofCoffee House Confessions today. (Cover photo by Nick Warzin.)

In The Privacy of Public

by Ellaraine Lockie

Two women sit silentsurrounded by the clamor of thecoffee shopMatching shades of sandy blondehairThe same sea-green eyesExcept the younger pairstare through rims red as coralinto some far-off horizonThe light in them drowned

Beacons in the older setHer hand stretchedacross the table stroking the otherwoman’sfolded arm that holds up her chinOnly one blink when saltwater eyesare dabbed with a napkin

The ice in one glass has meltedCoffee across from it would be coldYet the rubbing does not ebbSomething horrible here that can be alluded toonly through an umbilical cordAnd perhaps only in the privacy of public